I purchased a Little Gracie quilt frame w/Juki machine so I can quilt my own projects without sending them out. I didn't realize I would still have so little space for quilting designs even though the throat area is longer . . . how does anyone get around this issue? I'm a little bummed as I had planned on doing a flower design on 12-inch squares. Any suggestions?? Thanks!

It is the harp size -- distance between needle and pillar (?) of machine -- that determines the amount of quilting space you have available to you. A large quilt eats up quite a bit of that distance as it is rolled up. I think the Juki is a mid-arm machine. The problem you mention is one reason why quilters often prefer long-arm machines.

I don't have a home frame system yet, but I have been reading up on them on the homequiltingsystems group at http://groups.yahoo.com . I know some of the quilters there have the same setup, so perhaps they can give you some pointers on how to use the space you have.

Prism99 -- Thanks so much for your quick reply . . . I'll check out the site you mentioned.

I use my Juki without a frame for that reason. I am saving up for a bailey.

You could still chalk the design onto your quilt top, and do it in "pieces" (do as much as you have the depth to do, roll, do whatever else you have the depth to do, etc.). It will take practice to make it look seamless, but it might be worth a shot.

Dear justquiltin -- thanks. I wondered if anyone did it that way or not!! Seems like it would be a lot more time-consuming to start-stop; however may be worth it in the end.

I was in South Carolina last year and bought a mega quilter and frame. I wanted to do my own quilting, to save money and am doing it, but I have the same problem. I cannot do a large design without having to start and stop and it's taking me a while to get in the grove of it.

I'm planning on attending the Machine Quilters Festival in NH to get some pointers.

Guess it will just take a lot of practice.

I haven't tried to chalk a design on a quilt yet, but have a mid sized quilt to try it on. What is the best thing to mark with so that the design won't dissapear on me before I get it done?

I used the Mega quilter frame for several years and found the same thing. You can mark the design - I like the blue water soluble marker, but then you have to be able to wash it out after the quilt is finished. I've also stitched over Golden Threads paper with some success. The best luck with any method is if you break your design into two sections, and have the stitching lines from each half join each other at an intersection of some sort, not in a running line of stitching. That way, the place you connected to is not so obvious, and the transition to the second half looks much better. It will work out fine - it just requires a bit more planning than if you had a whole 12" work area.

Dear quiltmom04:

Thank you for your input . . . I feel a lot better hearing from everyone and knowing that I'm not so far off-base in my thinking regarding patterns and quilting on the frame!!! I like the idea of taking a large pattern and "halfing" it. Great idea on how to connect!! Thanks!

I need a bailey also...I found out it will fit on my grace frame. I have the juki right now and use is mostly for meandering, stipple, hearts and stars but it does help